Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-03-18
THROUGH WITH BOYHOOD.

If were a boy again endowed with
the same wild passion for plucking wa
termelons in the dark OF the moon,
would no doubt fall victim to that
overmastering passion as | did before,
but looking at it as do now, wouid
be wiser. Boys cannot, however, nave
the mature judgment Of manhood With
out the experience and rheumatism that
90 with it. SO il is better that in our child
hood we may be able 10 eat raw tur-
nip with safety, and know something
later on in life. notice great change
IN myself when comparing my present
condition with that of joyous boyhood'
Then | had no sense, but | had good
digestion. The hurrying years have
cavorted over my sunny head till they
have worn it smooth, but they have left
a good deal yet fer me 10 learn. l am
still engaged in learning during the
days and putting arnica on my expert
ence at night.
Childhood is said to be the most glad
some period in our lives, and in some re-
spects this statement may be regarded as
reliable, 5us it is not all joy. have had
Just as much fun in later years as l did
in boyhood, though the people with
whom | have been thrown in contact
claim that their experience has been diff
ferent. hope they do not mean any
thing personal by that.
do sometimes wish that | could be a
boy again, but | smother that wish on
account of my parents. What they need
most is rest and change Of scene. They
still enjoy children, but they would like
a chance to select the children with
whom they associate.
Ny parents were blessed with five
bright-eyed and beautiful little boys,
three Of whom grew up and by that
means became adults. | am in thatcon-
dition myself. | was the eldest of the
family with the exception of myp rents
| am still that way. My early life was
rather tempestuous in places, occasion
ally flecked with sunshine, but more
frequently with retribution. was not II
very good roadster when young, and so
retribution was most always just in the
act Of overtaking me. While outraged
justice vas getting in its work on me,
the other boys escaped through small
aperture in the fence.
That is another reason why | do not
yearn TO be boy again.
When we ran away from school to
catch chubs, and when we built fire to
cook them and the fire got into the tall,
dry grass and burned four miles Of fence
and sixteen tons of hay for gentleman
for whom | had Il high regard, and |
went back to pnt out the fire, the other
boys escaped and have remained ever
since.
A Just retribu.ion has never had any
difficulty in overtaking me and walking
up and down over my wishbonc.
When party of us had been engaged
in gathering Easter eggs in the barn of a
gentleman who was away from home Ut
the time and he returned just as we had
filled our pockets with the choicest vint-
age of his sun-kissed hens, the other
boys escaped while l was occupying the
attention of the dog, and | had to slide
out of the second story Of the barn. 1t
is still fresh in my mind as | write. |
wore my fathers vest at the time and 1t
was larger than was necessary. My
father was larger than at the time, for
| was only nine years ofage and had not
arrived at my full stature. In sliding
down the baiten | discovered that the
upper end of it was loose and that my
flowing vest had slipped over it, so that
when | got down about four feet hung
with the board buttoned inside my bosom
and the scrambled eggs oozing out OF
nv knckerbockers.
The batten had sprung back against
the barn in such a way as to oprevent my
unbuttoning my vest, and while | hing
there OH the side Of the barn like COON
skin, the proprietor came around and
accused me OF prematurely gathering
his eggs.
had heard truth very highly spoken
of BY people who had dsbbled in II more
or less. so | resolved TO try Ii in this in
stance. So admitted that such was the
case. and il WAS the best thing | could
have done. for the man said as | had
been so frank with him he would take
me down as soon as he got his other
work done, and he was as good ss his
wor.I. After he had milked nine COWS
and fed nine calves he came around with
q ladder and took me down. he also
spanketl me and set the dog on me. but
I did not mind that. for | was accus
toned to il. To hang on the side of a
barn. however. like an autumn leaf, try
ing to kick large holes in the atmosphere,
is disagreeable.
This incident cast gloom over my
whole life. 1t has also reconci!ed me &c
the awful decree that can never be
boy again.
"Come in, my poor man, said De
nevolent lady to a ragged tramp, land
will get you something to eat
..Thankv. mum: don't care if | do